Excavator



L. P. CLUTTER.

EXCAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-15' 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I INVENTQR wnwsssias L. P. CLUTTER.

EXCAVATOR.-

APPL!C AT|0N HLED AuG.15. 1914.

1,405,238, Patented Jan. 31,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR WITNESSES (Q i L]? mgr;

L. P. CLUTTER.

EXCAVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-l5, 1914.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTOR 2 ATTORNEY.

LEROY P. CLUTTER, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXCAVATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEROY 'P. OLU'r'rER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in excavators.

Among the 0 the following:

1) To provide a device of this'character which may be readily applied to an ordinary bjects' of my invention are type of motor such as a portable or traction steam engine.

(2) To provide a device of this character having a traveling excavating bucket controllable by a single operator without affecting the operation of the motor.

(3) To provide a device adapted for pivotal movement on a vertical axis and having-a beam pivoted on a horizontal axis to form a way j for a traveling excavating bucket, the beam and the bucket being controllably moved through independent connections from a single shaft.

(4:) To provide a device of this character in which the movements of the excavating bucket, and thebeam on which ittravels are controllable independently of each other and from approximatelythe same point, also to provide means for moving the beam and its bucket bodily on a pivotal'ax'is, with the operating mechanism for ments in fixed position.

(5) To provide improvements of the support for theexcavating bucket whereby the bucket may be positionable in parallelism with or an'gularly to the direction of length of the support for the bucket. I

(6) To provide an improved excavating bucket adapted to permit of a dumping of the material at will. 7

(7) To provide an improved mechan sm for steadying the device, said mechanism being movable into and out of an operatlve position without removal from the apparatus.

Other objects are to provide a device of this character which is composed mainly of metallic beams of ordinary cross-sectional configuration, to provide a built-up structure Application filed August 15, 1914. Serial No. 856,989.

providing such move Specification of Letters Iatent. Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

of exceeding strength and of few parts, all arranged compactly and of a strength adapted to withstand roughusage and thestrains to which a device whichis simple and eflicient in operation, durable in construction, readily repaired,.and which can be manufactured and installed at a relatively low cost. I

To these, and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as my invention ishereinafterdisclosed, said invention consists inthe improvedconstruction' and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed'o'ut in the appended claim. f

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts'in each of the views F igure 1 is a view in side elevation of my device applied tothe front of a portable engine, the excavator 'bucketand its supporting beams. being shown as slightly raised. V

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same with'the bucket and'thesupporting frame shown as swung-to one side, the supporting shown In substantially horizonbeam being tal position. 1 L

Figure 3 is a vie'whin sideelevation simi+ lar to Figure 1.,withthe bucket carrying beam raised and omitting the side support for the device. v

Figure 4: is a detail 'view in elevation 'of a portion of the steadying 'device; Figure 5 is a plan view of thestructure shown in Figure Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view ofthe construction showni'nFig. 5,'showing the dog engaging the side bar. The present invention'designed more pan ticularly as an attachment capable ofbeing placed in position at the front or other convenient pointof a suitable motor, preferably of a portable or traction steam engine type, the engine frame forming a support for two metallic beams 20 of any desired cross-sectional configuration and which extend longitudinally of the frame, asindi cated in Figure 1, being secured to the frame work of the motor in' any desired manner.

The forward ends of the beams are con-K nected' together by cross-beam 21' which not only serves as a connecting and bracing member for said beams but also as a carrier for the pintle member 22 of a pivotal connection presently described, said pintle being positioned approximately midway of the distance between said beams, but spaced therefrom so as to place the pintle in advance of the cross-beam 21.

Secured to the beams 20 and extending vertically therefrom and spaced from the front ends thereof are vertical uprights 23 which are connected together at their upper ends by a suitable brace 2%, these parts forming the rear frame of the apparatus.

Extending vertically from said beams 20 at a point adjacent the front ends'of said beams are twopart uprights 25, each of said uprights extending in two vertical planes substantially parallel but spaced apart, the lower part of these uprights extending in a plane inside of the plane of the upper part, as indicated inFigurc 2, said parts being com'iected together by suitable plates or other connections 26. the structure being such as tov provide a front frame for the apparatus, the lower partof which frame is of. a length between the up right portions less than the lengthbetween the upper portions of the uprights.

Said upright-s of the front frame are also connected attheir tops by a brace 27. The two frames are connected by brace 23.

Rising Vertically in the plane of the front frame and intermediate the upright members forming said frame, are two spacedapart bars or members 30 which are secured to the top and bottom braces of said frame". Secured to the front of said bars or members adjacent the: top brace 27 is one of the members of a top pivotal connection 31, presently described the pintles of the top connection 31 and pintle member 22 having their axes substantially in vertical alignment in order that the swinging portion of the apparatus presently described may be swung on a substantially vertical; axis. This axis corresponds to the axis of a circular member 32 positioned at the top of the apparatus and which is adapted to provide the turning movementsof the shiftable portion of the apparatus.

The shiftable portion of, the apparatus is connected to the frame work above described. by means of the complemental m m bers of the pivotal connections re red to, said complemental members being carried by. a vertical. upright 33 suitably formed, but preferably comprising two metallic bars spaced apart with the hinge members extending therebetween and secured in such position. The upper end of the uprigh 33 is provided with a horizontal member I to. the top surface of' which the circular member. 32is secured, said member 3 proectmg forwardly beyond sa d circular member and having,- ts forward end, secured to an inclined beam or member 35 inclined to the vertical and having its lower end secured to the lower end of the upright and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings said beam 35 being also preferably formed of metallic beams spaced apart, in order to provide strength with lightness. The upper end of said beam or member 35 carries the sheave or pulley 36 over whichonc of the pull ropes or cables hereinafter referred to passes, the structure being such that said beam 35 retains its position relative to the vertical upright 33, regardless of the pivotal movements of the shifting apparatus.

Pivotally secured at the lower end of the upright 33 is the supporting beam or carrier 37 for the excavating bucket said beam consisting principally of a metallic beamv preferably composed of two spaced-apart meme bers secured together, the lower flanges of said beam forming a run-way on which the bucket travels. The outer end of said beam is provided with a sheave or pulley 38 over which the pull rope or cable for the move ments of the bucket passes. Said front: end is also provided with a suitable member such as an eye 39, to which the outer end of the pull rope or cable for controlling the movements of the beam 37 is secured in a suitable manner.

The parts heretofore described comprise the main portion of the frame work of both the stationary and the shiftable portions of the derrick. As will be readily understood, the shiftable portion is so formed as to permit of a swinging or pivotal movement bodily on the upper and lower pivotal connect-- ions 22 and 31, while the supporting beam 37 may be raised or lowered on its pivot while at the same time provision ismadc for moving the bucket lengthwise of said beam, these being all of the movements of the swinging portion of a derrick required to perform the desired work, and. the construction is such that the parts, are of a. maximum strength without an increase in weight of material, while all of the parts are so braced as to withstand all strains, etc., to which they may be subjected in the operation of the apparatus.

The excavating bucket, is designated 215 1.0, consists of a bottom 41, pivotally connected with the forward end of a. wall, rising vertically from the plane of the bottom when in closed position the said wall extends around substantially threesides of the per iphery of the bottom, leaving-thefront open, the opposite sidesbeing preferably inclined, as shown. The outer face of the wall and the periphery of the bottom being in sub-- stantially the same plane to provide a structure in which the bottom lies against the under edge of the wall. The bottom: is pro-- vided at its front with a plurality of teet-hon fingers 43, which are adapted to act in; a :l-

Vance of the front edge of the bottom in loosening the material being operated upon. It will be understood thatthe material taken up by the bottom in the movements of the bucket will be carried backward into the interior of the bucket, as the latteris given its forward movement in operation, the bracket being shown in general in Figs. 1 and 2 with its suporting and operating mechanism and fully described in detail and claimed in Patent No. 1,107,899 granted to me on August 18, 1914.

For the purpose of providing the various movements" to the shiftable portion of the derick I preferably provide the following: 57 designates a shaft extending laterally across the stationary frame and preferably in juxaposition to the front upright frame, which shaft is provided with a drive pulley 58 connected to the motor in'a suitable man: ner. The shaft 57 extendsentirely across the frame and is provided with a pair of clutch elements, cooperating with complemental members 61, 62 loosely mounted on the shaft, each of said members being in the form of a circular web having a flared periphery or apron, said apron normally over-- lying its cooperating clutch elements. The members 61 and 62 are loosely mounted on the shaft 57 and are adapted to be coupled together by movements axially of the shaft.

Power devices are associated with the clutch elements 61 and 62 and comprises a shaft 67 forming the drive shaft and on connected to the member 61 or 62, as the casemay be. Said shaft is also provided with a pinion 69 adapted to engage with a gear 70 mounted on a shaft 71 carrying a winding drum 72 upon which the rope or cable is adapted to be wound or unwound.

Secured to the upright 25, at a point adjacent its top, are two plates 94, the lower 7 ends of which are bolted to two spacedapart bars 95 and to abrace member 96 extending laterally across and projecting outside of the uprights 25, the plates 94: and brace member 96 providing a stiff frame or support for the bars 95, each of which is provided with spaced-apart openings 97 to permit of adjustment in the position of the bars relative to the said frame. Adjacent to the lower ends the bars 95 are connected together in spaced-apart relation by suitable straps 98. On the opposite edge of said bars, each is provided with, inwardly extending projecting portions 99 which, in connection with the straps 98, complete a slideway for an adjustable member or bar 100 having its lower end pivotally connected to a plate 101 preferably having its corners bent downwardly, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. At a suitable point in the length df said bar 100, I preferably provide a plurality of ratchet teeth indicated at 102, which are 'mit of adjustment of the bar 100 inthe diin contact with thelground, the brace 106 sufficiently close accuracy as to prevent latiadapted to be engaged by eitherone of' two pawls 103'mounted on a pin 104C carried in brackets 105 positioned on the bars 95, said pawls being of different length .so as to perrection of length of the bars 95 in rela tively small distances without the-necessity of a large number of ratchet teeth, thereby enabling of the formation of teeth of sufiicient size toretain the parts in adjustedposition. The plate 101 is also pivotally connected to a brace 106 which has its rearend pivotally connected to the stationary frame of the apparatus, said brace being formed in two parts inthe nature of a toggle device, one o'f the parts being of'relatively short length. 1

In use,.the parts are arranged as. shown in fulllines in Figure 2, with the plate 101 having its parts in alignment, by manipulating the pawls 103, the proper adjustment as to length between the ground and the upper end of the steadying device is secured with eral swaying of the apparatus in use. W hen it is desired to release the steadying device, it is necessary to release the engagement between the active pawl 103 and the rack formed by the ratchet teeth 102, whereupon the bar may be moved longitudinally of the bars 95 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the brace 106 being formed of pivotal sections as shown to permit itto assume the position shown in said dotted lines. This latter position removes the steadying device to an out of the way position. As these devices are duplicated on opposite sides of the apparatus, it will be readily understood that the apparatus is '10 firmly held against lateral swaying or substantial vibratory movement and by reason of its presence, provides an apparatus structure relatively light and of a minimum weight.

This particular structure is especially. adapted for use in connection with apparatus being used where the ground is not hard and where there is a tendency of the appara-' tus to sink. In such case the swinging of the beam 37 laterally has the effect of caus-- ing a pressure to be placed on the side to which the beam is being swung. When this action takes place, if the surface of the ground on which the plate 101 rests is not sufliciently hard to sustain such pressure, the plate will tend to sink under this pressure and upon tlfe "return movement of thebeam, which has the effect of releasing a portion of this pressure, the upper portion, of the apparatus will tend to draw the outer casin provided by the members 25 upward y relatively to the bar 100 thereby permitting a pawl to engage a different notch and thus automatically take up for any sag ging or sinking of the plate in use, so that in operation any tendency of theiapparatus to rock due to the sinking of the-plates Will invention into effect, I am aware that changes and modifications therein may be made and may be found necessary to suit the various exigencies of use, and I reserve the right to claim any and all such changes and modifications as may be found neces sary and advisable, so long as such changes and modifications fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, What lclaim as IlGW'lSF i i Automatic positioning means for excavators comprising a frame adjacent the top of the excavator, spaced bars adjustably cari ried obliquely by the said frame, groundengaging means slidably carried between the said bars freely movable in a downward direction, automatic return preventing means for the said ground-engaging means, and a folding toggle brace connection pivoted between the said engaging means and the excavator adapted forunfolding during the automatic operation of the device.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in the presence of tWo Wlt-IlSSGS;

LEROY P. GLUTT'ER.

Vitnessesi i V MAX H. SRoLovnZ, Mania H. ZBIERA. 

